He Mingchu didn’t understand, but He Mingchu complied.
“Sounds quite interesting.”
If the little pet wanted to play, he would play along with her.
After finishing the meal, He Mingchu went out first.
Although he had never been in a relationship before, he had heard that women usually spend some time dressing up before going out.
The little pet was still quite young, so she might need that too.
Speaking of which, he needed to buy some accessories for the little pet. Those things in Jin Yao’s hair had been quite nice.
Now that the little pet’s hair was gradually thickening and its texture had improved, it was time to add some accessories.
Thinking of this, He Mingchu leisurely went to browse at the supply store.
Jin Yao’s accessories must have come from special channels. In the store, he only saw some tacky little trinkets.
He couldn’t bear the thought of such things appearing on his little pet.
After picking and choosing for a long time, a lavender hairpin in the corner caught his attention. It was a black bobby pin with a small purple flower at the end, which would match Lin Xiyue’s little purple flower dress quite nicely.
The little pet invited him to watch a movie, and he would give her a small gift in return. Fair enough.
…
Bai Xiaomei waited until He Mingchu had left the house before quietly asking Lin Xiyue.
“Why did Mingchu wear my newly made shirt today? He didn’t even wear it on my wedding day.”
Lin Xiyue took a sip of porridge.
“Hmm, maybe he has a date.”
Female lead, oh female lead, you must do your best!
Tell the male lead that you were the one who solved Bai Xiaomei’s job problem! Let him know how kind you are!
That way, no matter what, the distance between the two should shorten a bit, right?
Lin Xiyue dared to trick He Mingchu mostly because she knew he had a gentle temperament. Even if he found out the truth, he wouldn’t be too harsh on her. So, she still had the leisure to gossip with Bai Xiaomei.
Bai Xiaomei widened her eyes: “Isn’t Mingchu busy preparing for the college entrance exam? How does he have time? Who is he dating?”
Lin Xiyue: “There’s a girl in our class who really likes Mingchu.”
Bai Xiaomei: “The one who came to our house last time?”
Lin Xiyue nodded: “Yes.”
“Oh my, the girl is pretty, but that temper of hers… If she and Mingchu get together, they’ll probably argue a lot.”
Lin Xiyue finished eating and proactively cleared the bowls.
“Really? Mingchu has such a good temper. He probably wouldn’t argue with her, right?”
Jin Yao was following the plot, so how could the male lead deviate from the original story?
Bai Xiaomei looked at Lin Xiyue disapprovingly.
“I think Mingchu’s temper… isn’t one to be trifled with.”
Lin Xiyue didn’t care at all. How could that be? Although he could be somewhat domineering at times, most of the time he was easygoing and gentle, and he treated her very well.
The gentle male lead was definitely the right one!
Looking forward to the first date between the male and female leads today!
He Mingchu arrived at the cinema with the hairpin and movie tickets just as admission had begun.
He didn’t see Lin Xiyue and thought she might have gone in first.
Hah, so mysterious.
He checked his ticket and walked into the dark screening hall.
He Mingchu found his seat and had just sat down when he heard someone speaking next to him.
“He Mingchu, you actually came!”
It was Jin Yao.
He Mingchu’s face instantly turned cold.
“Why is it you?”
Jin Yao was taken aback: “Who did you think it would be?”
He Mingchu quickly calculated in his mind and grasped the general outline of the matter.
Lin Xiyue, you’ve got nerve! How dare you scheme against me!
“Bai Xiaomei, was it you who helped Lin Xiyue’s mother find her job?”
Jin Yao: “Yes, Lin Xiyue mentioned her mother was looking for work. Since our family happened to need help and Lin Xiyue is someone we know well, I thought it’d be good to have her come.”
He Mingchu clenched the hairpin in his hand. He had been overthinking things.
This little pet—before he even had a chance to toy with her, she had already started plotting against him.
In that case, there was no need for him to hold back anymore.
He Mingchu stood up and walked out without a word.
Who would want to watch such a sappy movie with Jin Yao!
Over the next while, whenever Jin Yao tried to discuss the movie’s plot with He Mingchu, he remained completely unresponsive. Jin Yao assumed he simply wasn’t interested in that kind of film—after all, she had two older brothers at home who also had little enthusiasm for such things.
But when the movie ended, she realized He Mingchu had long since left his seat!
“He Mingchu!”
Jin Yao’s face flushed with anger.
He Mingchu returned home early. Lin Xiyue was sitting under the eaves, working on practice questions.
“Oh, you’re back so soon? Was the movie that short?”
He Mingchu’s expression was grim.
“Did you set me up with Jin Yao?”
Lin Xiyue’s heart skipped a beat. Oh no, it seemed the female lead hadn’t managed to win He Mingchu over—and now he was angry!
“Ming Chu…”
She stood up with a pained expression. “I know what I did wasn’t right, but… I had my reasons.”
He Mingchu scoffed. “Your ‘reasons’ are that your mother couldn’t find a job, so you traded me off for one?”
Surprise flickered in Lin Xiyue’s eyes. Jin Yao had clearly explained the situation to He Mingchu—why was he still angry?
If He Mingchu had come back early, would Jin Yao still let Bai Xiaomei keep the job?
For now, the priority was to placate He Mingchu.
“Ming Chu, I can explain!”
He Mingchu pulled over a small stool, sat down, and crossed his long legs as if he were lounging on an Italian leather sofa rather than a simple bamboo stool from the 1980s.
He gestured for her to continue with a casual “please,” raising an eyebrow.
Lin Xiyue felt as if she were reporting to a high-ranking executive.
She swallowed nervously. “Ming Chu, you know how hard it’s been for my mother to find work. Her past experiences haven’t helped her at all. In fact, with so many Educated Youth returning to the city, it’s become even more difficult.
“Besides, you know how my grandparents feel—they’d never lift a finger to help my mother. They’d be happy to see us sent back to the countryside.
“If my mother can’t find a job, we’ll just keep relying on your family for food and shelter…”
Lin Xiyue turned away, looking pitiful.
“You were the one who told me not to expect to stay with the He family forever… I’m already studying and spending so much of your family’s money. We just wanted to give something back as soon as possible!
“And besides, all Jin Yao asked was for you to watch one movie, and she solved my mother’s employment problem! It was a win-win situation! Once the He family’s finances ease up a bit, won’t life be better for all of us?”
After that concluding statement, who wouldn’t be moved by her thoughtful intentions?
If someone wasn’t, it could only be because they had a heart of stone!
The stone-hearted man frowned as he looked at her.
“You sold me off like that—did you ever consider my feelings?”
He had actually thought his little pet wanted to watch a movie with him. Recalling all those actions born of his wishful thinking, he pressed his lips together and threw the hairpin he’d been clutching tightly in his hand onto the ground.
“Did you really expect me to just let you manipulate me however you want?”